A ceremonial drum was seized at Magdala and sliced into three pieces, so that it could be handed out as battle honours to three regiments involved in the raid. The present day descendants of those regiments have refused to return the drum pieces, despite appeals. The pieces went to the present day Royal Scots Dragoon […]
What: The abuna’s crown, dated 1740, made of gold alloyed with silver and copper with filigree work, glass beads, pigment and gilded copper
Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL
You have to zoom right in on the screen to spot him. There are more than 40 boys, dressed in dark jackets and starched white collars, holding still for the long exposure in a classic school photo line-up. Foliage hangs off diamond-shaped windows and patterned brick walls in the background. A severe Victorian teacher with a severe Victorian beard sits in the middle of the ranks of teenagers. And to the side of the frame there’s a list of who’s who in the class photo, row by row, left to right. It’s a posh private school in central England, Rugby no less. So it’s all surnames, no first names, with just one exception – Cox, Melly, Hannay, Rigby, Drake, Swetenham, Bennett, Dunell, Swann, Sadler, Cook and “Alamayu”.
What: A wooden drum bound in leather straps
Where: The Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Rd, Gillingham ME7 1UR
What: One tabot, hidden in an altar
Where: Westminster Abbey, Dean’s Yard, London, SW1
What: A crown or “tarboosh” cap made of silver and gold, said to belong to Emperor Tewodros
Where: The Royal Collection, Britain